Catlin Art Prize
Reynir Hutber wins survey of new art talent
In a small enclave to the back of Shoreditch’s Village Underground, a video screen captures artist Reynir Hutber’s naked body lying curled into a ball on the floor. A haunting evocation of surveillance culture, Hutber’s Stay Behind the Line won the Catlin Art Prize, a selection of over 500 young artists selected by curator Justin Hammond from last year’s graduate art show program.
The screen mixes footage of Hutber twitching with a live-feed of the screen’s viewers. It’s only upon seeing one’s movements echoed behind the prone body that one realizes that the space Hutber occupies in the video is the vacant gap right besides you. It’s a subtle and clever exploration of those parts of ourselves we lose within the media watching us.
Hammond’s goal with the prize is to showcase the work of talented, amateur artists in a setting other than their college degree shows. “There’s a sense of ceremony and ritual,” Hammond said. “I think the thing that binds the show together is that all the artists have shown a really meticulous attention to detail. They all put an incredible amount of research and time into the actual process, but also into the presentation.”
“My recent projects often examine how we, as spectators, relate to images of suffering and endurance,” explained Hutber. “I hope to produce a nuanced work that utilizes an adept and original use of technology to simulate the intimacy of a sudden and strange encounter.”
“It’s fascinating to see people’s reactions,” continued Hammond. “It’s supposed to be quite sinister, but it’s actually quite fun. I don’t know if he’d like me to say that; I think he likes it quite sinister.”
But Hutber’s piece alone hardly made the show. The exhibition featured a total of eight artists each with their own unique style.
One remarkable piece was a collection of sculptures all made out of clear resin entitled BodyCash. The artist Miyo Yoshido crafted models of her own body parts and researched the prices she could get for her organs in the U.S. and on the black market.
“Miyo blows me away every time I see her work,” Hammond said. “Working with her has been a lot of fun but has also been quite surreal as well.”
As for artist and filmmaker Sonny Sanjya Vadgama, his piece is a powerfully chaotic short film designed to engross the audience in the experience through the use of loud, heavy levels of sound.
“The point of Sonny’s films is that it’s not just visual; they’re sort of all encompassing, so when that bass is turned on, it really feels as though it’s smashing you in the ribs,” Hammond said. “It’s only three minutes long because really, you probably shouldn’t be in here for more than three minutes.”
Painter Alex Virji’s small, oval shaped pieces show an elegant progression from stark portraits to soft landscapes. “I think out of all the artists, Alex is the artist that has developed his work the most,” Hammond said. “These are very different from his degree show pieces, but they’re instantly recognizable as his work.”
The Catlin Art Prize is at Village Underground until May 23.
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